Techfest 2017: 4.5 million USD committed for Vietnamese startups
The innovation and start-up festival Techfest wrapped up in Hanoi on November 15 with 29 investments worth more than 4.5 million USD committed for startups and 170 investment and business connections, according to Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Van Tung.
Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Van Tung said that Techfest 2017 saw 170 investment and business connections. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - The innovation and start-up festival Techfest wrappedup in Hanoi on November 15 with 29 investments worth more than 4.5 million USDcommitted for startups and 170 investment and business connections, accordingto Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Van Tung.
Thetwo-day festival drew many participants, including 4,500 visitors, 250 startupsand representatives from 50 domestic and foreign venture capital funds, Tungsaid, adding that it also introduced startup support services.
The festival also featured six technological areas divided into sevenvillages, namely Agritech Village, Edtech Village, Medtech Village, Tourism andF&B Village, Frontier and Fintech Village, and Emerging Tech Village, alongwith Community Village.
Measures to bolster startups and innovation were discussed among managers,investors, successful startups and experts at the event.
Notably,ten excellent startups were singled out at the final round of the Techfeststartup competition. They received support from investors to continue theirdevelopment.
A “virtual housekeeper” application, which helps users manage their houses,earned the Ami-Startup first prize. The team won a ticket to attend a startupforum in the US and other prizes like a three-month intensive training courseworth 1,200 USD sponsored by KisStartup company and three-months consultancyfrom the Vietnam Mentor Initiative.
Techfest is one of the largest national annual events for stakeholders inVietnam’s startup ecosystem. The event is endorsed by the Ministry of Scienceand Technology, other ministries, agencies and other startup ecosystem buildersin Vietnam.
Vietnam is working towards becoming a start-up nation, with a target of havingone million enterprises by 2020.-VNA
Start-up enterprises could seek a number of opportunities to apply latest technologies to reform their business models at a workshop held in Hanoi on October 10 as part of the TECHFEST 2017.
The national innovation and start-up festival Techfest 2017 is going to take place under the theme “Start-up Ecosystem Connect” in Hanoi on November 14-15.
Under the European Union (EU)’s global initiative on Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE), Vietnam has implemented numerous projects aimed at strengthening national capacity in detecting, preventing, and preparing for CBRN-related threats.
The course aims to promote knowledge exchange between scientific and educational schools from different countries, while deepening participants’ expertise in modern technology and technical education. It comprises two main specialisations of electronics-automation and nuclear technology.
ANTARA and VNA can design global-scale cooperation programmes or joint media campaigns, demonstrating the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Indonesia, as well as the cooperation between the two national news agencies.
As Vietnam’s digital transformation accelerates, both the frequency and severity of cyberattacks are growing. The National Cybersecurity Association (NCA) reported that in 2024 alone, there were some 659,000 separate cybersecurity incidents, impacting around 46.15% of government agencies and businesses.
A key highlight will be the technology cluster pavilion, showcasing top enterprises selected for their innovation, market potential, and practical applications. These firms will display flagship products and solutions, supported by government policies to strengthen the tech sector.
Since 2022, more than 500 Vietnamese startups have engaged in Google’s Startup Academy, Google for Startups Accelerator, and Google Startup Masterclass. Nearly 100 of these firms received support to develop and improve their products, benefiting more than 300,000 customers and creating over 300 new jobs through successful fundraising and team expansion amidst Vietnam’s competitive economy.
Over the past three decades, Binh Duong has cemented its status as one of Vietnam’s most dynamic industrial hubs, building a robust foundation in manufacturing, exports, and investment. The province now has 30 operational industrial parks spanning over 13,000 hectares, with an occupancy rate exceeding 90%.
The diplomat emphasised that Vietnam places the highest priority on the development of science, technology, and innovation, viewing them as critical drivers for the country’s advancement in the new development era.
The PM revealed Vietnam’s plan to develop nuclear power in the near future, and called on the Swedish side to assist Vietnam in developing and refining legal and policy frameworks for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; training and developing human resources; ensuring nuclear safety; and conducting training and drills to improve incident management capabilities.
More than an art showcase, the second “Technology with heart” contest seeks to inspire innovation and spotlight the humanistic values that technology can bring into daily life, expected to contribute to a sustainable digital future.
The average speed of the national mobile broadband network remained stable, with download speeds reaching 76.86 Mbps and upload speeds reaching 26.98 Mbps.
Under the MoU, AMD will support several key initiatives spearheaded by HCM City’s authorities, including piloting policies, co-hosting innovation events, and evaluating the investment environment within the Saigon Hi-Tech Park.
The centre is a joint initiative between Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, with PTIT and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) serving as co-leads, and global telecommunications giant Nokia as founding industry partner.
The new centre, staffed by a team of scientists, researchers, and AI specialists working in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, forms part of Qualcomm’s global AI research group.
As a flagship initiative of the community project “Digital Literacy for All”, the programme forms part of a national scheme to equip 20 million young people with digital business skills.
The organisers hope the competition will help shape a generation of exceptional engineers who will make significant contributions to Vietnam’s scientific and technological progress in this era of transformation.
In the digital age and amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution, IP plays an increasingly critical role, not only in safeguarding inventions but also in reducing copyright infringement and curbing piracy.
Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu laid stress on the significance of the Hanoi Convention, particularly to the Asia – Pacific, to handling legal gaps in international cooperation against rapidly increasing global cybercrime.
Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Van Tung said that Techfest 2017 saw 170 investment and business connections. (Photo: VNA) 
